For thousands of years pearls have been worn by the rich, and given to loved ones as extravagant gifts. Traditionally worn by new brides, they have long been a symbol of love, purity and perfection. Nowadays pearl jewellery is available to more people than ever before, and you no longer need to be royalty to afford it. Pearls of all shapes, sizes and colours are ‘cultured’ on farms around the world and with so many varieties to choose from any bride-to-be has no trouble finding the perfect pearls to match her wedding gown. In fact, there are so many different types of pearl that it can be difficult to know which to choose, so here are a few pointers of what to look out for:
Type of pearl – There are two main types of pearl, saltwater and freshwater. Saltwater pearls are farmed in the sea, and are usually larger, rounder and clearer than the freshwater variety. They are also usually more expensive because of this. Freshwater pearls are farmed in lakes and rivers, usually smaller and often less regular in shape, though they come in a large range of different colours.
Size – When buying pearls, size makes a huge difference. The larger the pearl, the more desirable it is and the more expensive it will be. Saltwater pearls are usually the bigger variety, and are therefore more highly sought after.
Nacre – Pearls take years to develop inside an oyster shell. When a foreign object gets into the shell the oyster produces layers of nacre, which gradually build up around the nucleus forming the pearl. The thicker the nacre coating, the more durable the pearl will be as jewellery. Some cultured saltwater pearls are made with a ‘beaded’ large nucleus which speeds up the process and keep the pearls as round as possible. Natural pearls are formed entirely of nacre, which is why their shape is often less regular.
Luster – No pearl is as smooth and shiny as a mirror but they should have a sort of reflective quality to them, called the lustre. Pearls with this shimmery surface are the most popular type.
Colour – The natural colours of pearls are various shades of white, pink and lilac although nowadays you can now get cultured pearls dyed in almost any colour. A pearl necklace made of matching naturally-coloured pearls will cost more than dyed ones, as it can take a long time to collect enough matching pearls for a whole string.
Shape – When we think of pearls, we usually imagine them to be perfectly round and smooth. In reality this is rare, and perfectly round pearls are highly in demand and so can be very expensive. Small cultured pearls tend to be more rounded and some larger ones are formed around a bead to help the shape develop. Irregular pearls are also used and made into unique jewellery and pendants.
Matching – It can be difficult to find enough matching pearls to make a whole necklace, so a string of regular naturally coloured pearls will cost more as it is rarer and more desirable.
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- What are the Main Differences Between Freshwater and Saltwater Pearls?
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- Things You Must Recognize On all sides of Pearl Jewellery
- Pearl Jewelry : Understand Pearls Before You Buy
- Saltwater vs. Freshwater Pearls
- No chance of giant pearl from UK’s biggest ever oyster
- Lesser Known, But Beautiful Pearls
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